how to paint a camper?

[foggy08]

hi ive a mk2 ci autohome .the cab is white and bright and fresh,butthe camper is 70s beige in colour and is very tired.and i would like to brighten it up.now ive 3 choices...
1/ dulux and roller or brush
2/ car paint and roller or brush
3/ ive spray painting equipment(compressor and spraygun ) but no knowledge of how much paint to thinners etc or technique..

or should i get tore in with tcut and elbow grease ......... your opinion would be appreciated

[FredTransit]

I would test a small area with T cut or rubbing compound first, you might be pleasantly surprised by the result. If you are still not happy go with the car paint and roller, it's a flat surface and would polish up well. Prep is everything.

[chipv8]

Ask your local car paint store and make sure you know what its made of (Ally/steel/fiber glass) because it all makes a difference if cost is the limiting factor go with hamerite and a roller, its self leveling, hard as nails and should polish up nice

[FredTransit]

It shouldn't matter what the camper is made of as it already has a finish on it. As long as that paint is sound, clean and keyed up it should take new paint.

[Watto]

I have a MK1 with a CI body.

The skirt is fibreglass which I painted with car spray paint from a can and it looks fine.

The body side panels are aluminium. I used hammerite 'rollerable' applied with a mini gloss roller which looks OK but a bit orange peely. I haven't tried flattening it back yet.

The roof is fibreglass and I haven't painted this but gave it a clean up with UPVC restorer which has given it a bit of a shine but not removed some faint discolouration.

[cyberchild]

I did this somewhat unusual.



Green and black for camoflage in forest and mountains.
I`m also buying 4 camo tents 2 on each side.

[cyberchild]

Oh i almost forget, Notice this is MK2 and that CI motorhome house on the back is from a MK1. Heavy customized.

[foggy08]

thanks for the advice ,watto ....yours looks smart ill take a leaf from your book and have a go

[FredTransit]

I have a MK1 with a CI body.

The skirt is fibreglass which I painted with car spray paint from a can and it looks fine.

The body side panels are aluminium. I used hammerite 'rollerable' applied with a mini gloss roller which looks OK but a bit orange peely. I haven't tried flattening it back yet.

The roof is fibreglass and I haven't painted this but gave it a clean up with UPVC restorer which has given it a bit of a shine but not removed some faint discolouration.

The orange peel effect is usually a reaction between two paints. What ever you decide to paint with, try a small area first to see if there is a reaction. If there is, you will need a barrier primer.

[toriitom]

The orange peel effect is usually a reaction between two paints. What ever you decide to paint with, try a small area first to see if there is a reaction. If there is, you will need a barrier primer.

Is the orange peel effect not caused by the roller The reaction between two paints is usually more severe causing bubbling and paint lifting

[FredTransit]

I would say the roller would leave a more very slightly pimply surface, is that what you mean? If so you are right, it should buff out.

[Watto]

I don't think there was a reaction with the original paint - that would give a blistering. It's just that the roller doesn't give a truly flat finish. I think the best finish would be obtained from sprayed paint but I don't have the facilities and the roller finish is good enough for me (I'm not looking for perfection)

I know paint always looks better in a photo but here is a before and after anyway...


Before....






After....






I haven't done anything with the panels with the windows in yet. I'm unsure about doing it the same colour as the bottom panel as I think this might look to much all the same shade. It currently looks a bit of a bluish white. I thought of trying a can of kitchen appliance paint from Halfords

Any suggestions

[toriitom]

On the forum somewhere there is a thread about painting with a roller. The paint used was Rustoleum CombiColor. The finish is orange peel but if you require a good finish you can rub it down with wet&dry then polish with body compound. It can be as close to the finish of sprayed paints.

If you do a search you will see it.

[Watto]

Found that post about painting with a roller. It had a link to this site......

http://wiki.80-90.co.uk/index.php/Body_ ... r_painting


Very interesting. Thanks for the info Toriitom

[BOLTON WANDERER]

I don't think there was a reaction with the original paint - that would give a blistering. It's just that the roller doesn't give a truly flat finish. I think the best finish would be obtained from sprayed paint but I don't have the facilities and the roller finish is good enough for me (I'm not looking for perfection)

I know paint always looks better in a photo but here is a before and after anyway...


Before....






After....






I haven't done anything with the panels with the windows in yet. I'm unsure about doing it the same colour as the bottom panel as I think this might look to much all the same shade. It currently looks a bit of a bluish white. I thought of trying a can of kitchen appliance paint from Halfords

Any suggestions

the shiney aluminium pannels on the back will need to be coverd with etch primer first, or the paint, in time, will just flake off.

any car paint shop will sell you this.

trust me on that.

a wise man learns by other's mistakes
a fool learns by his own.